Basic Japanese 1 – Hiragana (A, I, U, E, O)
June 1, 2020
Studying Japanese is not easy. But, with enough motivation and resources, you can definitely learn at least the basics and slowly progress into fluency with actual usage. But, where does one start? I am not a language teacher, and I have mostly learned Japanese through self-study, but I want to help out beginners in getting […]
JLPT N4
August 24, 2017
After years of putting it off, I finally took the JLPT N4 exam last July. The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is made up of 5 exams, from N5 (super basic) going up to N1 (fluent). This test certifies your level of fluency in Japanese which you can use for various purposes such as applying for […]
Studying Japanese
February 27, 2017
I have been on and off studying Japanese since college. I took actual lessons once (~2011) at Nihongo Foundation (Elem 3), but stopped attending because work was hectic back then. After that, I only picked up further knowledge from watching anime and Jdrama. I mentally matched the words and grammar structure to the subtitles I am […]
Oshaberi Salon – Tanabata
June 10, 2016
The Japan Foundation Manila (JFM) is organizing an Oshaberi Salon this July 8 for Tanabata! The Oshaberi Salons are different “Japanese-speaking” activities where Nihongo enthusiasts can freely join and practice their Japanese. To be honest, I have never attended one session (because I get intimidated by those who speak good Japanese), but to those of you […]
5 YouTube Channels for Japanophiles!
April 22, 2016
Don’t we all wish we live in Japan? Unfortunately, most of us don’t. Fortunately, the Internet helps bridge that gap to a certain extent. Here are 5 YouTube channels you should follow to keep the Japanophile in you alive! 1. JPCMHD (Japanese Commercials in HD) – Japan is so unique and creative in so many ways, that […]
TORIAEZU – Japanese Phrases for First Time Travelers!
March 10, 2016
I’m going to start off my series of Japan Travel posts with some essential Japanese phrases that would be good for you to know (and hopefully use), when you are traveling to Japan. I am not an expert in Japanese, but I have on-and-off studied Japanese formally and by myself since high school (more self […]

日本語

I’m currently studying Japanese (self-study). Let’s learn together!

Basic Japanese